Solar heating device

ABSTRACT

The disclosure relates to a solar heating device comprising at least one incidence collector and a thermal container. The thermal container includes at least one light absorbing recess, wherein at least one of the incidence collectors focuses solar beams on a focal point, which is located inside the light absorbing recess. The inner surface of the light absorbing recess converts the energy of the solar beams into radiant heating.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The disclosure relates to a heating device, and more particularly, to asolar heating device.

2. Background

Since global warming causes abnormal climate change in seasons and theoverdevelopment of industrial society causes serious environmentalimpact, a lot of disasters occur. Thus, many countries advocateutilizing sustainable energy and have signed climate protectionagreements. Thus, there is a need for a device capable of utilizingsolar energy for emergency situations (e.g., disasters) or outdooractivity.

A solar beam collection heater 21 in prior art as shown in FIG. 1comprises a supporting frame 44 and a grill 22. A light beam collectingframe 51 of the heater 21 is disposed on the supporting frame 44. A lens5 is mounted in the frame 51 and disposed above the heater 21 convergessolar beams toward an object 23 on the heater 21 such that the object 23is heated by solar energy. The object 23 may produce liquid materialsuch as grease during the heating process, which may flow into thecontainer 14. However, the solar beam collection heater 21 may notfunction well in heating the liquid material, for example, the liquid inthe container 14. Furthermore, the heater 21 may be heavy and bulky,which is not suitable for hand carry.

SUMMARY

The disclosure provides a solar heating device, which comprises at leastone incidence collector and a thermal container. The thermal containerincludes at least one light absorbing recess. At least one incidencecollector focuses solar beams on a focal point. The light absorbingrecess converts the energy of the solar beams into radiant heating(e.g., a black-body radiating source). Preferably, the focal point islocated inside at least one of the light absorbing recesses.

The disclosure also provides a solar heating device, comprising at leastone incidence collector and a thermal container including at least onelight absorbing recess. At least one of the incidence collectors focusessolar beams on a focal point and includes an optical guide. The opticalguide directs the solar beams to the focal point and locates the focalpoint inside the light absorbing recess so the light absorbing recessconverts the solar beams into radiant heating.

The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technicalbenefits of the disclosure in order that the detailed description of theapplication that follows may be better understood. Additional featuresof the disclosure will be described hereinafter, and form the subject ofthe claims of the disclosure. It should be appreciated by those skilledin the art that the conception and specific embodiment disclosed may bereadily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structuresor processes for carrying out the same purposes of the disclosure. Itshould also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalentconstructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the disclosureas set forth in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the disclosure may be derived byreferring to the detailed description and claims when considered inconnection with the Figures, where like reference numbers refer tosimilar elements throughout the Figures, and:

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a solar beam collection heater in priorart;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a solar heating device in accordancewith an embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a solar heating device in accordancewith another embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a solar heating device in accordancewith still another embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a solar heating device in accordancewith yet another embodiment of the disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a solar heating device in accordancewith yet still another embodiment of the disclosure; and

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a solar heating device in accordancewith still another embodiment of the disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure is directed to a solar heating device. In order to makethe disclosure completely comprehensible, detailed steps and structuresare provided in the following description. Obviously, implementation ofthe disclosure does not limit special details known by persons skilledin the art. In addition, known structures and steps are not described indetail, so as not to limit the disclosure unnecessarily. Preferredembodiments of the disclosure will be described below in detail.However, in addition to the detailed description, the disclosure mayalso be widely implemented in other embodiments. The scope of thedisclosure is not limited to the detailed description, and is defined bythe claims.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a solar heating device 100 inaccordance with an embodiment of the disclosure. Referring to FIG. 2,the solar heating device 100 includes at least one incidence collector110 and a thermal container 120. In one embodiment, the incidencecollector 110 is a Fresnel mirror, which reflects solar beams andfocuses the solar beams on a focal point 130. Particularly, the detailof the Fresnel mirror is shown in the enlarged view below FIG. 2. Sinceeach of the reflection angles of the Fresnel mirror is different, theincident solar beams with different incident angles can be focused onthe focal point 130. In addition, the thermal container 120 includes atleast one light absorbing recess 140 at the bottom. Since the focalpoint 130 of the Fresnel mirror is located inside at least one of thelight absorbing recesses 140, the light absorbing recess 140 willconvert energy of the solar beams into a black-body radiating source ora radiant heating. Particularly, when solar beams emit into the lightabsorbing recess 140, since the solar beams are reflected inside thelight absorbing recess 140 and the incidence opening 141 of the lightabsorbing recess 140 is very small, the solar beams cannot scatter awayfrom the light absorbing recess 140. In addition, since the solar beamsare repeatedly reflected by the inner wall of the light absorbing recess140, the energy of the solar beams will be converted into black-bodyradiating source for radiant heating. The disclosure utilizes theblack-body radiating source and the thermal conduction capability of thelight absorbing recess 140 to conduct heat inside of the thermalcontainer 120 so as to heat the liquid 200 accommodated in the thermalcontainer 120. Since the solar heating device 100 can heat the liquid200 (e.g., water) to its boiling point, the solar heating device 100 canbe, but is not limited to being, applied for heating food. In theembodiment, the number of light absorbing recesses 140 is one; however,in another embodiment (not shown), the number of light absorbingrecesses 140 can be plural in accordance with different designs.

The thermal container 120 further includes an outer wall 121, an innerwall 122 and a vacuum layer 123. The vacuum layer 123 is disposedbetween the outer wall 121 and the inner wall 122. Since the position ofthe light absorbing recess 140 does not include the vacuum layer 123between the outer wall 121 and the inner wall 122, the position of thelight absorbing recess 140 in the thermal container 120 is formed by asingle recess wall instead of the outer wall 121 and the inner wall 122.By such design, the black-body radiating source of the light absorbingrecess 140 directly conducts heat into the inside of the thermalcontainer 120 to heat liquid 200. In addition, since the thickness ofthe outer wall 121 and the inner wall 122 is inversely proportional tothe value of thermal conductivity, if the wall thickness of the lightabsorbing recess 140 is less than that of the outer wall 121 and theinner wall 122 of the thermal container 120, it is more efficient toconduct the heat into the thermal container 120 from the radiatingsource. Furthermore, in the embodiment, the thermal container 120further includes, but not limited to, a cover 300 which seals theopening (not shown) of the thermal container 120 so as to rapidly heatthe liquid 200.

As shown in FIG. 2, the light absorbing recess 140 includes an incidenceopening 141. The light absorbing recess 140 is surrounded by side walls142. The diameter of the incidence opening 141 is less than the maximaldiameter of the light absorbing recess 140 to avoid light leakage fromthe incidence opening 141. In addition, the above-mentioned focal point130 is located inside the light absorbing recess 140 defining theincidence opening 141. Furthermore, the side walls 142 defining thelight absorbing recess 140 are coated with a light beam absorbingmaterial 400 (e.g. carbon-related compound). The absorbing ratio of thelight beam absorbing material 400 is higher than 30%. The light beamabsorbing material 400 forms a structural layer (not shown) including aplurality of micro holes (not shown). Particularly, since the lightabsorbing recess 140 includes a plurality of micro holes formed by thelight beam absorbing material 400, when the solar beams are focused onthe inside of the light absorbing recess 140, the energy of the solarbeams will be absorbed by the micro hole of the light absorbing recess140, instead of scattering away from the light absorbing recess 140.Moreover, since the solar beams are repeatedly reflected by the innerwall of the light absorbing recess 140, the energy of the solar beamscan be absorbed by the micro holes and then converted into theblack-body radiating source. In addition, the shape of the lightabsorbing recess 140 is selected from the group consisting of sphericalshape, half spherical shape, polygonal shape, symmetrical shape, cubicshape, rectangular shape, conic shape, arc-like shape, andnon-symmetrical shape so as to absorb the solar beams in the lightabsorbing recess 140 to convert the optical energy into the thermalenergy.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the solar heating device 100 furtherincludes a fixing device 150 configured to maintain the relativeposition between the thermal container 120 and at least one of theincidence collectors 110. Since the fiving device 150 can prevent thefocal point 130 from being located outside of the light absorbing recess140 due to the shift of the relative position between the thermalcontainer 120 and the incidence collectors 110, the black-body radiatingsource generated by the energy of the focal point 130 can be ensured.Furthermore, the shape of the incidence opening 141 is selected from thegroup consisting of circular shape, square shape, triangular shape,polygonal shape, rectangular shape, arc-like shape, and curved shape.Moreover, the shape of the incidence opening 141 allows the diameter ofthe incidence opening 141 to be less than the maximal diameter of thelight absorbing recess 140 so as to avoid light leakage from theincidence opening 141.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a solar heating device 100 a inaccordance with another embodiment of the disclosure. As shown in FIG.3, an incidence collector 110 a of the solar heating device 100 aincludes a Fresnel lenslet array. Solar beams passing through theFresnel lenslet array are focused on the focal point 130. In addition,the thermal container 120 includes a first light absorbing recess 140 a.Since the focal point 130 focused by the Fresnel lenslet array islocated inside a second light absorbing recess 140 b, the second lightabsorbing recess 140 b will absorb the solar beams and convert them tothe black-body radiating source. Particularly, when solar beams emitinto the second light absorbing recess 140 b, since the solar beams arerepeatedly reflected by the inner wall of the second light absorbingrecess 140 b and the diameter of the incidence opening (equal to theincidence opening 141 of the first light absorbing recess 140 a) of thesecond light absorbing recess 140 b is too small to allow the solarbeams to scatter away, the energy of the solar beams can be absorbed bythe inner wall of the second light absorbing recess 140 b and thenconverted into the black-body radiating source. In the embodiment, thelateral side of the thermal container 120 includes the above-mentionedfirst light absorbing recess 140 a. Other lenslet arrays (not shown) canfocus the solar beams inside the first light absorbing recess 140 a soas to generate another black-body radiating source for rapidly heatingthe liquid in the thermal container 120. In the alternative embodiment,the solar heating device 100 a further includes the above-mentionedincidence collector 110 b for focusing solar beams inside the firstlight absorbing recess 140 a. In addition, the light beam absorbingmaterial 400 as shown in FIG. 2 can be coated inside the first or secondlight absorbing recesses 140 a or 140 b. Moreover, the fixing device 150shown in FIG. 2 can be applied for the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 tomaintain the relative position among the thermal container 120 and theincidence collector 110 a.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a solar heating device 100 b inaccordance with still another embodiment of the disclosure. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 4, an incidence collector 110 b of the solarheating device 100 b includes an optical guide 111, directing solarbeams toward the focal point 130. The optical guide 111 includes a lightguide plate 112 and a collector prism 113. The light guide plate 112includes a micro structural layer 1121 and a body 1122. The microstructural layer 1121 is disposed on the body 1122. The micro structurallayer 1121 utilizes its own micro structure to direct most of the solarbeams into the body 1122. The solar beams are total reflected inside thebody 1122. The collector prism 113 is disposed at a side of the body1122 and focuses the solar beams from the body 1122. In the embodimentshown in FIG. 4, the solar heating device 100 b further includes aguiding light device 160. The guiding light device 160 includes anoptical fiber 161. One end 162 of the optical fiber 161 connects withthe collector prism 113, while the other end 163 of the optical fiber161 directs the solar beams to the focal point 130. In an alternativeembodiment, the above-mentioned incidence collectors 110 or 110 a can beutilized to focus solar beams inside the light absorbing recess 140. Inaddition, the light beam absorbing material 400 as shown in FIG. 2 canbe coated inside the light absorbing recesses 140. Furthermore, thefixing device 150 shown in FIG. 2 can be applied for the embodimentshown in FIG. 4 to maintain the relative position among the thermalcontainer 120 and the incidence collector 110 b.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a solar heating device 100 c inaccordance with yet another embodiment of the disclosure. In theembodiment shown in FIG. 5, the solar heating device 100 c furtherincludes a guiding light device 170 (e.g., a prism), which directs thesolar beams at the focal point 130 into at least one of the lightabsorbing recesses 140. Since the guiding light device 170 of thedisclosure can direct the solar beams at the focal point 130 into thelight absorbing recess 140, the focal point 130 focused by the incidencecollector 110 a is not necessarily located inside the light absorbingrecess 140. In other words, the guiding light device 170 can direct thesolar beams of the focal point 130 located outside of the lightabsorbing recess 140 into the light absorbing recess 140 so as toconvert the energy of the solar beams into the black-body radiatingsource. In the embodiment, the number of guiding light devices 170 isnot limited to only one and can be plural in accordance with differentdesigns. In addition, the fixing device 150 shown in FIG. 2 can beapplied for the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 to maintain the relativeposition among the thermal container 120, at least one incidencecollector 110 a, and the guiding light device 170. In the alternativeembodiment, the solar heating device 100 c further includes theabove-mentioned incidence collectors 110, 110 a or 110 b for focusingsolar beams inside the lateral light absorbing recesses 140. Inaddition, the light beam absorbing material 400 as shown in FIG. 2 canbe coated inside the light absorbing recesses 140. In the embodimentshown in FIG. 5, the solar heating device 100 c may further include theabove-mentioned guiding light device 160 to direct solar beams from theincidence collector 110 b. In alternative embodiment, the guide lightdevice 160 can be replaced with the lenslet array.

In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the solar heating device 100d further includes a guiding light device 180 (e.g., the reflectingmirror). The reflecting mirror can be plate-shaped as shown in FIG. 6 orconically-shaped guiding light device 190 as shown in FIG. 7. Thereflecting mirror reflects the solar beams of the focal point 130 intoat least one of the light absorbing recesses 140. Since the guidinglight device 180 of the embodiment can direct the solar beams of thefocal point 130 into the light absorbing recess 140, the focal point 130focused by the incidence collector 110 a is not necessarily locatedinside the light absorbing recess 140. In other words, the guiding lightdevice 180 or 190 can reflect the solar beams of the focal point 130located outside of the light absorbing recess 140 into the lightabsorbing recess 140 so as to convert the energy of the solar beams intothe black-body radiating source. In the embodiment, the number ofguiding light devices 180 or 190 is not limited to only one and can beplural in accordance with different designs. In addition, the fixingdevice 150 shown in FIG. 2 can be applied to the embodiment shown inFIGS. 6 and 7 to maintain the relative position among the thermalcontainer 120, at least one incidence collector 110 a, and the guidinglight device 180. In the alternative embodiment, the solar heatingdevice 100 d or 100 e further includes the above-mentioned incidencecollectors 110, or 110 b for focusing solar beams inside the laterallight absorbing recesses 140. In addition, the light beam absorbingmaterial 400 as shown in FIG. 2 can be coated inside the light absorbingrecesses 140. In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the solarheating device 100 d or 100 e may further include the above-mentionedguiding light device 160 to direct solar beams from the incidencecollector 110 b or the above-mentioned guiding light device 170 todirect solar beams from the focal point 130. In alternative embodiment,the guide light device 180 or 190 can be replaced with the lensletarray.

Although the disclosure and its advantages have been described indetail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions andalterations can be made herein without departing from the spirit andscope of the disclosure as defined by the appended claims. For example,many of the processes discussed above can be implemented in differentmethodologies and replaced by other processes, or a combination thereof.

Moreover, the scope of the disclosure is not intended to be limited tothe particular embodiments of the process, machine, manufacture, andcomposition of matter, means, methods and steps described in thespecification. As one of ordinary skill in the art will readilyappreciate from the disclosure of the present disclosure, processes,machines, manufacture, compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps,presently existing or later to be developed, that perform substantiallythe same function or achieve substantially the same result as thecorresponding embodiments described herein may be utilized according tothe present disclosure. Accordingly, the appended claims are intended toinclude within their scope such processes, machines, manufacture,compositions of matter, means, methods, or steps.

What is claimed is:
 1. A solar heating device, comprising: at least oneincidence collector; and a thermal container, including at least onelight absorbing recess, wherein at least one of the incidence collectorsfocuses solar beams on a focal point, and the light absorbing recessconverts the energy of the solar beams into radiant heating.
 2. Thesolar heating device according to claim 1, wherein the incidencecollector further includes a Fresnel lenslet array, and the solar beamspass through the Fresnel lenslet array to focus on the focal pointlocated inside the light absorbing recess.
 3. The solar heating deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the incidence collector includes a Fresnelmirror, reflecting solar beams and focusing on the focal point, locatedinside the light absorbing recess.
 4. The solar heating device accordingto claim 1, wherein the incidence collector includes an optical guide,directing solar beams to the focal point located inside the lightabsorbing recess.
 5. The solar heating device according to claim 1,wherein the optical guide includes a light guide plate and a collectorprism, the light guide plate includes a micro structural layer and abody, the micro structural layer is disposed on the body, the microstructural layer directs the solar beams to the body, and the collectorprism is disposed at a side of the body and focuses the solar beams fromthe body.
 6. The solar heating device according to claim 2, furthercomprising a guiding light device, directing the solar beams of thefocal point to at least one light absorbing recess, wherein the guidinglight device is selected from a group consisting of reflecting mirror,lenslet array, and optical fiber.
 7. The solar heating device accordingto claim 3, further comprising a guiding light device, directing thesolar beams of the focal point to at least one light absorbing recess,wherein the guiding light device is selected from a group consisting ofreflecting mirror, lenslet array, and optical fiber.
 8. The solarheating device according to claim 5, further comprising a guiding lightdevice, directing the solar beams of the focal point to at least onelight absorbing recess, wherein the guiding light device is selectedfrom a group consisting of reflecting mirror, lenslet array, and opticalfiber.
 9. The solar heating device according to claim 5, furthercomprising a guiding light device, including an optical fiber, whereinan end of the optical fiber connects with the collector prism, and theother end of the optical fiber directs the solar beams to the focalpoint.
 10. The solar heating device according to claim 1, wherein thethermal container further includes an outer wall, an inner wall, and avacuum layer, the vacuum layer is disposed between the outer wall andthe inner wall, and the position of the light absorbing recess in thethermal container does not include the vacuum layer between the outerwall and the inner wall.
 11. The solar heating device according to claim10, wherein at least one of the light absorbing recesses includes anincidence opening, the focal point is located inside the light absorbingrecess, and the shape of the light absorbing recess is selected from thegroup consisting of spherical shape, half spherical shape, polygonalshape, symmetrical shape, cubic shape, rectangular shape, conical shape,arc-like shape, and non-symmetrical shape.
 12. The solar heating deviceaccording to claim 11, wherein the shape of the incidence opening isselected from the group consisting of circular shape, square shape,triangular shape, polygonal shape, rectangular shape, arc-like shape,and curved shape.
 13. The solar heating device according to claim 11,wherein the inner surface of the light absorbing recess is coated with alight beam absorbing material, and the absorbing ratio of the light beamabsorbing material is greater than 30%.
 14. The solar heating deviceaccording to claim 13, wherein the light beam absorbing material forms astructural layer including a plurality of micro holes.
 15. The solarheating device according to claim 1, further comprising a fixing device,maintaining the relative position between the thermal container and atleast one of the incidence collectors.
 16. The solar heating deviceaccording to claim 1, wherein the light absorbing recess is located atthe bottom or the lateral outer wall of the thermal container.
 17. Thesolar heating device according to claim 11, wherein the diameter of theincidence opening is less than the maximal diameter of the lightabsorbing recess to avoid light leakage from the incidence opening. 18.The solar heating device according to claim 12, wherein the diameter ofthe incidence opening is less than the maximal diameter of the lightabsorbing recess to avoid light leakage from the incidence opening. 19.The solar heating device according to claim 6, wherein the shape of thereflecting mirror is selected from the group consisting of plate shapeand conical shape.
 20. The solar heating device according to claim 7,wherein the shape of the reflecting mirror is selected from the groupconsisting of plate shape and conical shape.